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May 30, 1933.

E. L. FONSECA ET AL AIR CONDITIONER Filed July 26, 1929 J l... nmimn rwwm i {a |N\/IE:OR i

ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD L. FONSECA, OF NEWARK, EDWARD MCK. HUNT, OF MONTOLAIR, NEW JERSEY,

AND MARVIN G. BARNUMI, OF MINNEAPOLIS, .MINNESOTA, ASSIGNORS TO- THE WILCOLATOR COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY A CORPORATION OF DELA- wean AIR GONDITIONER Application filed m 2c, 1929. Serial'No. 381,204.

This invention relates to an air conditioning device and has particular reference to a device which refreshes and purifies the air of a room whereby it is most healthful and comfortable to the occupants thereof.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an air conditioning device which continuously recirculates the air of a room while washing it and providing it with the most healthful and comfortable degree of humidity.

Another object of this invention is to provide an air conditioning device of the type described inthe form of an article of furniture which is pleasing in appearance and preferably .simulates another article of furniture in appearance, such as a radiator cover, for example.

A further object of this invention is to provide an air conditioning device of. the type described which is compact, durable, simple, fool-proof and in which the only moving part is an electric fan which is only employed when a greater air change is desired, the volume of air treated by the device without the use of the fan being sufiic-ient for ordinary purposes.

'These' and other objects are obtained in a preferred embodiment of the invention which consists of an enclosure resembling a radiator cover or the like, preferablyrof metal, which is provided with air intake and discharge louvres. 1

The humidifying apparatus is. mounted within this enclosure, and comprises at least one circular tube suspended vertically and having a return bend leading to the discharge louvres In the intake end of this tube 'is placed a water nozzle producing a circular spray which closes the tube and, in moving downwardly therethrough, draws a current of air with it through the air intake louvre and washes and humidifies this air at the same time. As the air passes the return bend of the tube toward the discharge louvre, the sudden change in direction there of causes the precipitation of the surplus water entrained therein, this water being collected in the sump of the tube and carried away through a suitable discharge pipe.

Mounted between the intake end of the tube and the intake louvre is an electric fan which may be turned on or off at will to force additional air through the tube at increased velocity, whereby a greater volume change and higher velocity of the treated air are obtained.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the air conditioner of this invention;

Fig. 2'is a view of the interior thereof with the front of the enclosure removed; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof as seen along the line 33of Fig. 2.

In the .drawing, numeral 10 designates the vention, this enclosure being preferably made of sheet metal or the like, and resembling a radiator casing or the like. In the opposite ends of the enclosure 10 are air intake louvres 11, while in the front thereof are the air outlet louvres 12, these louvres being located adjacent the upper corners thereof and spaced apart. In the front of the enclosure 10 is mounted the panelled door 13 having the knob or latch handle 14 whereby the door 13 may be swung about its hinges for access to the interior of the enclosure 10 which contains the air conditioning apparatus. Through this door 13 the air conditioning apparatus may be adjusted, inspected, cleaned, or otherwise attended to.

Suspended within the enclosure 10 upon brackets 15 and saddles 16 secured to the front or back, or both front and back interior surfaces of the enclosure 10 is the air conditioning apparatus. This apparatus includes a pair of air outlet casings 17 adapted to register with the air outlet louvres 12 in the front of the enclosure 10. These air outlet casings 17 are formed in the shape of hoods from sheet metal such as sheet copper, and are fitted with a sheet metal baffle 18 which sets behind a lip 19 formed along the lower edge of the opening of the hooded casing 17, this bafle preferably being adjustable and serving to deflect the air upwardly against the curved interior surface enclosure for the air conditioner of this inof the hooded casing 17, causing a precipitation of the surplus moisture contained in the air,'the bafile 18 also serving to collect surplus moisture.

Secured through the bottom of each of air outlet casings 17 is one arm of a U tube 20, these U tubes being circular in cross-section and preferably made of sheet metal such as sheet copper or the like, the return bends 21 of which rest in the saddles 16. The upper ends of the other arms of these U tubes are inserted into the common air. intake casing 22, whichis pyramidal in form, and has a circular opening 23 in the top thereof in lected by precipitation upon the hood 17,

baflie 18, louvres 12 and the interior surfaces of the U tubes 20 flows into a common drip pan 27 mounted upon the bottom of the enclosure 10.- Drip pan 27 also serves to collect whatever water vapor is condensed upon the outer surfaces of U tubes 20 and which flows downwardly over the exterior surfaces of the tubes 20 and drips therefrom. Draining the drip pan 27 is a drain pipe 28 which is connected to another drain pipe, not shown, but preferably inserted through the base board or in a junction box in the wall of the roomin wh1ch the air conditioning apparatus is mounted, either by a ermanent plpe connection, by semi-flexible tu ing, such as seamless copper tubing, or by braided, spiral metal, fabric, rubber or similar flexible tubing, so that the apparatus may be moved around within limits. Also connected to a water pipe, preferably mounted adjacent the drain pipe in the base board or junction box in the wall of the room by a similar connection, not shown, is the vertical water supply pipe 29, which leads to a filter 30 through a water shut-off valve 31.

Connected to this filter by pipe 32' and T fitting 33 are a pair of branch pipes 34 connected to and supporting the nozzles 35 axially of the corresponding arms of'th'e U tubes 20 as shown in Fig. 2. The nozzles 35 may be of any suitable type which will produce a fine conical spray of water which moves downwardly like a piston to create a suction which draws air through the water spray to wash and humidify the same. The flow of water through these nozzles 35, i.'e. the spray, may be regulated by valve 31 which is accessible through the enclosure door 13, as are the fan 24, the filter 30 and the nozzles 35. In cleaning or adjusting the nozzles 35 or filter 30, the water may be shut off by valve 31, and the nozzles 35 with pipes 32 and 34 may be entirely removed by means of union 36, and the filter 30 may be similarly removed b means of union37.

.In use, drain and water supply pipes 28 and 29, respectively, are connected to their corresponding junction pipes inserted through the wall or floor of the room in which the apparatus, described is to be mounted, the apparatus being placed against the wall or in any other desirable position.

For ordinary purposes, the purified and hu- 1 midified air circulated by the action of the nozzles 35 alone will be sufiicient, the spray through these nozzles being turned on and regulated by means of valve 31 which is readily accessible by opening the door 13 in the front of the enclosure 10.

The fin'e water spray emerging from nozzles 35 fills the corresponding arms of the U tubes 20, and in moving downwardly acts as a piston to draw a current of air from the room through the louvres 11, along the top of enclosure 10, opening 23 in intake. casing 22, the inner arms of the U tubes- 20, where the air is washed and humidified, around the return bends 21 of the U tubes 20, where the sudden change of direction causes the precipitationof the surplus moisture entrained in the air, u through the other vertical arms of the U tu es 20, against the baflle 18 and hood of discharge casing 17, where further moisture is precipitated,

and out through the air outlet louvres 12 into the room.

The last vestige of the surplus moisture in the air is deposited upon the grills of louvres 12, down which it flows and drips into the outlet casings 17, and then, with the moisture collected upon the hood of casing 17'and the baflie 18, flows downwardly along the interior surface of the, U tubes 20 into the sump of return bends 21, where all of the moisture collected in the U tubes flows through spouts 26 into the drip pan 27 and from there through the drain pipe 28 to waste. Such water vapor which condenses on the outside surfaces of the U tubes 20 also flows down the outside thereof and drips into thedrip pan 27;

If a greater air volume and air velocity are desired, electric fan 24 is turned'on by means of an electrical switch, not shown, but mounted within enclosure 10 such as upon casing 22 so as to be accessible by door '13. The fan 24 draws an additional quantity of 'air from the room through the intake louvres l1 and opening 23 in air intake cas ing 22, and forces it through the U tubes 20 so that a considerable draft of cool, fresh air emerges from the air outlet louvres 12 terrace into the room. The use of this fan 24 is optional, and is particularly desirable in the summer time, when greater'change of conditioned air is desired for comfort. Also, if desired, the water, before emerging from nozzles 35, may be refrigerated in any sultable way to procure a considerable cooling effect, but in many instances the water supplied from the usual city Water ma1n 1s cool enough to provide a considerable coohngeffect without the additional step of refrigerating the water. Conversely, the apparatus may be used to warm the air of the room by directing warm water through the nozzles 35, this warm water being supplled from the ordinary hot water heating plant or the like.

It will be seen that the air conditioner of this invention provides many advantages over those heretofore used, and that it does not require any substantial change within the room in which it is to be installed, but

is a decorative piece of furniture'which may be finished to harmonize with the other furm'shings of the room and constructed. to resemble or simulate the appearance of some other piece of furniture such as a radiator enclosure, radio console or the like. The operation of the ap aratus is efficient and provides the room with properly humidified and purified air which is most healthful to the occupants'thereof, and renders the air of the room pleasant during all seasons of the year, without requiring the introduction of outside air for its operation, so that no heating action such as is rovided by the usual home heater is lost, ut, on the contrary, inasmuch as the apparatus provides the air of a room with the proper degree of humidity, the temperature of the room may be lowered in the winter time, whereby a sav- I ing in fuel is obtained. The apparatus is silent in operation, has no moving parts ex cept the simple electric fan 24, is not likely to get out of order during long periods of use, is fool-proof, efiicient and economical 1n operation.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of many changes in form and detail within its scope.

We claim:

1. In an air conditioning device, the combination of an enclosure, air intake and outlet louvres therefor, a tube of substantially uniform cross-section mounted therein, an intake casing connected to one end of said tube and indirectly communicating with said intake louvre through said enclosure,

' the other end of said tube communicating directly with said outlet louvre, and means producing a liquid spray in the intake end of said t be for creating a current of air in said intake louvre, through said tube and out of said outlet louvre.

2. In an air conditioning device, the combination of an enclosure, air intake and outlet louvres therefor, a tube mounted therein, a casing connected to at least one end of said tube and communicating with one of said louvres through said enclosure, a fan in said casing for increasing the air flow through said tube, and means producing a liquid spray in one end of said tube for creating a current of air in said intake louvre, through said tube and out of said outlet logvre, the spray being confined to said tu e.

3. In an air conditioning device, the combination of an enclosure, air intake and outlet louvres therefor, a tube mounted therein, an intake casing connected to one end of said tube and communicating with, said intake louvre through said enclosure, a fan in said casing for increasing the air flow through said tube, an outlet casing connected to the other end of said tube and registering with said outlet louvre, and means in the intake casing producing .a liquid spray in said tube for creating a current of air in said intake louvre, through said tube and out of said outlet louvre, the spray being confined to said tube.

4. In an air conditioning device, the combination .of an enclosure, air intake and outlet louvres therefor, a tube mounted therein, one end of said tube of substantially uniform cross-section communicating with said intake louvre through said enclosure, a casing connected to the other end of said tube and having an opening registering with said outlet louvre, a baflle in said casing, and

means producing a liquid spray in the intake end of said tube for creating a current of air in said intake louvre, through said tube and out of said outlet louvre, the spray being confined to said tube.

5. In an air conditioning device, the combination of an enclosure, air intake and outlet louvres therefor, a tube mounted therein, one end of said tube communicating with said outlet louvre, a casing mounted upon the other end of said tube and having an opening communicating with said intake louvre through said enclosure, an electric fan mounted upon said casing. with the blades thereof disposed in the opening of said casing, and means mounted in said intake casing producing a liquid spray in said tube for creating a current of airin said intake louvre, through said tube and out of said outlet louvre,'the spray being confined to said tube.

6. In an air conditioning device, the combination of an enclosure, air intake and outlet louvres therefor, a tube mounted therein, an intake casing mounted upon one end of said tube and having an opening communicating with said intake louvre through said enclosure, an electric fan supported upon said casing for forcing air from said intake louvre and into said tube, an outlet casing mounted upon the other end of said tube and having an opening'registering with said outlet louvre, a bathe in said outlet casing, and means producing a liquid spray in the intake end of said tube for creating a current of air in said intake louvre, through said tube and out of said outlet louvre, the spray being confined to said tube.

' 7. In an air conditioning device, the combination of an enclosure, air intake and outlet louvres therefor, a pair of U tubes mounted therein, a commonintake casing for one end of said tubes communicating with said intake louvre, a separate outlet casing for each tube communicating with a corresponding outlet louvre, a spout in the bottom of each tube, a common receptacle into which said spouts discharge, and means producing a liquid spray in said tubes for creating a current of air in said intake louvre, through said tubes and out of said outlet louvres.

8. In an air conditioning device, the combination of an enclosure, air intake and outlet louvres therefor, a pair of U tubes mounted therein; a common intake casing connected to one end of each of said tubes and communicating with said intake louvres, a separate outlet casing mounted upon the other end of each tube and each havin an opening registering with a correspon mg outlet louvre, and means producing a liquid spray in said tubes for creating a current of air in said intake louvres, through said tubes and out of said outlet louvres.

9. In an air conditioning device, the combination of a decorative enclosure, an intake louvre in each side wall of said enclosure, a pair of spaced discharge louvres in the front wall of said enclosure, a pair of U tubes mounted in said enclosure, a connection between one end of each tube and an outlet louvre, a common intake connection of the other ends of said tubes communicating with said intake louvres, a liquid spray nozzle in each of said tubes for creating a current of air in said intake louvres, said. common intake connection, through said tubes and out of said outlet Openings, a spout in the bottom of each U tube, and a common receptacle into which said spouts discharge.

10. In an air conditioner, the combination of an enclosure, a humidifying device mounted therein having an outlet opening, louvres in the front of said enclosure registering with the outlet opening of said device, an intake louvre in said enclosure, and a movable panel in the front of said enclosure adjacent said outlet louvres for access to said device.

bination of a plurality of vertical U tubes, a common header communicating with one arm of each of said U tubes, means in said header directing a liquid spray into each of said' U tubes for creating an air current therethrough, and a hood communicating with each of the other arms of said U tubes for laterally deflecting the current of air issuing therefrom.

12. In an air conditioning device, the combination of a plurality of vertical U tubes, a common header communicating with one arm of each of said U tubes, means in said header directing a liquid spray into each of said U tubes for creating an air current therethrough, a hood communicating with each of thevother arms of said U tubes for laterally. deflecting the current of air issuing therefrom, and an adjustable bafiie in each of said hoods for controlling the air issuing therefrom.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

EDWARD L. FONSECA. EDWARD MoK. HUNT. MARVIN C. BARNUM.

11. In an air Conditioning device, the com- CERTIFICATE vOi CORRECTION.

-Patent No. 1,911,562. May 30, 1933.

EDWARD L. FONSEGA, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, lines 99 and 100, claim 4, strike out the words-"of substantially uniform cross-section" and insert the same after "tube" in line 98; and that-the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Sign d and sealed this 8th day of August, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore.

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

